Express & Star

Under-fire Brazilian president ‘will only leave office if forced out’

He said he is innocent and will remain in office.

Published

Embattled Brazilian president Michel Temer has said he will only leave office if forced out, despite facing growing calls to resign over a corruption scandal.

In an interview with the Folha de S Paulo newspaper, Mr Temer said he is innocent and will remain in office with the help of his shaken Congressional base until December 2018 so he can go forward with austerity measures and unpopular reforms.

He said: “I will not resign. If they want, force me out, because if I resign that will be a declaration of guilt.”

Demonstrators march against Brazil's President Michel Temer, holding a banner that reads in Portuguese
Demonstrators march against Brazil’s President Michel Temer, holding a banner that reads in Portuguese “Temer Out” and “Out with everybody,” in Sao Paulo on Sunday (Andre Penner/AP)

Brazil’s supreme court has opened investigations into Mr Temer for allegedly obstructing justice, passive corruption and being a member of a criminal organisation.

The move follows release of an audiotape that appears to show him endorsing the payment of hush money to an imprisoned former ally in exchange for silence.

Businessman Joesley Batista, who made the recording, also said in plea bargain testimony that he paid Mr Temer and his allies millions in bribes and illegal campaign funds.

Mr Temer has also been accused of negligence for failure to take any measures after hearing Mr Batista say he was paying bribes to two judges and a prosecutor.

The meeting with Mr Batista, the owner of giant meatpacker JBS, took place in March.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.